Warriors explored trade for Jaren Jackson Jr. before Giannis Antetokounmpo pursuit, per report

The Golden State Warriors were all-in on 6-foot-10 Milwaukee Bucks phenom Giannis Antetokounmpo on this year’s trade market. 

Ultimately, the Warriors didn’t make a season-altering trade for the two-time MVP, frustrating many fans who believed he was the missing piece for the Dubs. 

Before Golden State aggressively pursued Antetokounmpo, though, it reportedly explored a trade for Utah Jazz center Jaren Jackson Jr.

“A couple of weeks ago, the Warriors had some pretty extensive conversations with the Memphis Grizzlies about Jaren Jackson Jr., but they tabled those conversations because I think the Warriors were talking about two first-round picks; it would have been a similar type of deal to what Utah did,” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said Thursday, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Taylor Wirth.

“But then Giannis was maybe available, and so they tabled those conversations because they needed those picks in the Giannis trade, and then Utah came in with three first-round picks. And so they come out in the end here with Kristaps Porzingis.”

Jackson was linked to the Warriors as a backup trade option for the Warriors near the end of the trade season. The two-time All-Star is a well-rounded center who can make positive plays in pick-and-roll actions, shoot the three well enough to earn respect as a perimeter shooter, handle the ball under pressure, and bail out his undisciplined teammates on the defensive end. 

At the end of the day, the Warriors wound up acquiring a player with a similar skill set, as Porzingis is also a multi-dimensional veteran big man. The only difference is that Porzingis is more injury-prone, which could affect his production in the Bay. 

Jackson, meanwhile, was traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Jazz on Tuesday, a move that made it clear Memphis is rebuilding.

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